How to Find Someone by Their Phone Number: 10 Methods
Katherine Young
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Ever wondered who’s behind that unknown number? Or maybe you’ve lost touch with someone and only have their phone number? There can be multiple reasons why you may use a phone number to find someone. It can be essential for anyone seeking to reconnect, verify identities, or address concerns. There can be business proposals to share, or it can be to figure out spammers as well. With my deep understanding of digital tools and their impact, I have seen how this skill can bridge gaps in both personal and professional relationships.
After spending over 100 hours reviewing various methods, finding someone by their phone number is no simple task. This guide will equip you with the most effective methods, from reliable search engines to secure databases. My goal is to provide you with dependable, step-by-step guidance to help you make the most of your search while avoiding common mistakes. Read more…
Spokeo is top-rated option that used to fetch data about a particular phone number that claimed to be a law agency firm. This reverse phone lookup service gathered data from public records, social networks, and online databases to deliver a comprehensive report about the firm.
Methods to Find Someone by their Phone Number
So, let’s discuss the most prominent methods that you can use to find someone by their phone number:
Method 1: Reverse Phone Lookup Services
I have used the following reverse phone lookup services to find someone by their phone number:
1) Spokeo
Spokeo is another top-rated option that I have used to fetch data about a particular phone number that claimed to be a law agency firm. Spokeo helped me with its prompt reverse phone search process to uncover full details of the firm, located in Tampa, Florida. This reverse phone lookup service gathered data from public records, social networks, and online databases to deliver a comprehensive report about the firm. With just a single search, users can access names, addresses, social media profiles, and more. This makes it one of the most effective solutions for quickly identifying unknown callers.
Phone Number Lookup: Yes
Identify Unknown Caller: Yes
Verify Contact Details: Yes
Free Trial: 7-Days Trial for $0.95
Spokeo may sometimes return incomplete or outdated data when locating someone by phone number. To resolve this, refine searches by combining Spokeo’s reverse lookup with cross-referencing social media, verifying data recency, and leveraging advanced filters to ensure accuracy while respecting privacy norms.
Steps to access Spokeo Reverse Phone Lookup service:
Step 1) Visit Spokeo’s official URL and click on the “Phone” section. This will redirect you to the reverse phone lookup page.
Step 2) In the search space, type the phone number for which you want to conduct the reverse phone lookup.
Step 3) Click on “Search” to allow Spokeo to start the lookup process from numerous publicly available resources.
Step 4) Once the results are generated, you can view the complete report by paying only $0.95. The complete report includes the owner’s full name, address, email, secondary phone numbers, criminal records, and more.
7-Days Trial for $0.95
2) Social Catfish
Social Catfish simplifies the process of tracing individuals through phone numbers with its reverse lookup system. I have worked with similar tools for years, and this platform stands out for balancing accessibility with robust identity verification. Its interface lets you cross-reference phone numbers with social profiles, addresses, and public records while prioritizing privacy. What impressed me most is how it effortlessly bridges gaps for personal and professional needs, whether reconnecting with old contacts or verifying suspicious accounts.
Phone Number Lookup: Yes
Identify Unknown Caller: Yes
Verify Contact Details: Yes
Free Trial: 3-Day Trial for $5.73
Social Catfish requires a paid subscription to generate the complete report. Also, some numbers (especially mobile or unlisted ones) may not have information available. I recommend you to use free services for basic information and consider subscribing to premium services for more comprehensive reports. Relying solely on Social Catfish may not be the right approach. You can also consider other similar tools to check the output. It will help you cross-check the information and verify its authenticity.
Steps to access Social Catfish Reverse Phone Lookup service:
Step 1) Go to https://socialcatfish.com/, click on “Phone,” enter the phone number from which you want to extract the necessary details, and click on “Search.”
Step 2) Social Catfish will search by accessing billions of records available in the public domain to collect information related to the phone number.
Step 3) Once you have completed this step, Social Catfish will display partial information about the phone number. You will need to add your email details to access the full report.
3-Day Trial for $5.73
Method 2: Using Search Engines
Search engines like Google and Bing can prove to be effective in finding information about a phone number. This might pull up social media profiles, public records, or websites associated with that number. The process is simple and does not take much effort or time. Below, I have used the Google search engine to extract details of a specific phone number.
However, the search results might be inaccurate, outdated, or not specific to the person you’re trying to locate. Below, I have used Microsoft Bing search engine to find details of a phone number. It failed to provide any result.
To improve search results, I recommend combining multiple search techniques, such as adding location or associated names. You need to be specific and try different keywords to filter out irrelevant information.
BeenVerified is a reliable solution for those looking to find someone by their phone number. This reverse phone lookup tool aggregates information from public records, social media, and other online databases to uncover details like the owner's name, location, and potential connections.
Method 3: How to Find Someone Using Phone Number on Social Media Platforms
You can consider searching through different social media platforms to unlock someone’s details using a phone number. Although this process does not guarantee a 100% positive outcome, the chances of finding someone using a phone number are bright. Popular social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram allow users to search using a phone number if they’ve linked them to their profiles.
Nevertheless, this process may not deliver satisfactory results if the person (whom you are searching using a phone number) has activated privacy settings that restrict access to their phone number, or their account may not be linked to the number you have. You can try multiple social media platforms (it may be that the person is active only on a specific social platform). You can even use alternative identifiers, such as email addresses or names, to refine the search process.
PeopleSmart is a trusted platform designed to help users locate individuals using just a phone number. By entering the number into the search tool, users can quickly access comprehensive details, including contact information and possible connections.
Method 4: Using Specialized Directories
Various directories or databases (Yellow Pages) are available online that aggregate publicly available information, including phone numbers, addresses, and professional details. You can use these online directories to search for more information about a phone number.
But my experience was not fruitful while using US Yellow Page. I had this number of my friend from college days. The directory featured the number but the address was outdated. Then I used Whitepages advanced search where there were three different addresses enlisted, including the most recent one. Unless I cross-checked, it would caused me a lot of harassment. Hence, I suggest cross-referencing multiple directories to verify the information. This certainly increases your chances of finding the latest and most authentic information related to the phone number.
Method 5: Contacting the Phone Carrier
You can use your mobile phone carrier’s customer support service to track down a person’s number. In some countries, phone numbers can be ported between carriers. Using services that track phone number portability might help identify which provider currently holds the number.
Yet, not everything is as smooth as you might think. Carriers often refuse to disclose customer information due to privacy policies, and legal restrictions may prevent carriers from sharing personal data. The best possible solution to manage such challenges is to obtain a court order, police report, or subpoena to compel the carrier to release information. Hence, I recommend using this method only for legitimate legal purposes.
Method 6: Public Records
In some cases, phone numbers are listed in public records related to property ownership, business registrations, or court cases. Accessing these records may require contacting government agencies or local boroughs. But then again, you may face challenges finding information on a specific phone number.
Remember, not all phone numbers are listed in public records. Even if listed, the information may be outdated or incomplete. Therefore, you need to cross-reference multiple public record sources for accuracy. I would recommend you to use additional identifiers (e.g., name, address) to narrow down results.
Method 7: Use of Online Forums and Communities
There may be online communities where people share or discuss phone numbers. Some popular options include Quora and Reddit. Although information shared through these community sites may not be claimed as 100% authentic, there still lies some possibilities to solve your purpose. My experience with Quora was quite positive. I wanted to verify the details of a phone number that kept on calling me for a lucrative loan offer with 2% interest rate. I put this issue on Quora open community and within a couple of hours, there were 35 results responses flooding the post. Every response was negative about the offer, warning me about the loan scams going on around. A guy named Jason told me to contact the cybercell department and report the call. Some of the responders even told me to use reverse phone search to verify details of the number.
Method 8: Caller ID Services
Numerous apps, such as Truecaller, Whoscall, and Verizone call filters, are available for iOS and Android. These apps can show the name and location of an incoming number.
Some of these apps use databases of known numbers to provide this service.
However, there are situations when you may notice that certain numbers are unlisted or blocked. Be alert and use reputable caller ID services with regularly updated databases. My two cents: You need to combine these with other methods for more detailed and verified results.
Steps to use Truecaller
Step 1) Visit Truecaller or download the Truecaller app from the Play Store or App Store.
Step 2) Log in using your Google or Microsoft account to access the search feature.
Step 3) Type the phone number in the search bar and press enter to look up the details.
Step 4) Check the name, location (if available), and spam reports associated with the number.
Link: https://www.truecaller.com/
Steps to use Verizon Call Filter
Step 1) Install the Verizon Call Filter app from the App Store or Google Play, then sign in with your Verizon account.
Step 2) Activate Call Filter via the Verizon app or My Verizon website under “Add-ons” to enable spam protection and number lookup.
Step 3) Use the Call Filter app to enter and look up a phone number to check for spam reports or available details.
Step 4) View caller ID details, spam risk levels, and potential name information provided by the app.
Link: https://www.verizon.com/support/
Steps to use Whoscall
Step 1) Get the Whoscall app from Google Play or the App Store or visit Whoscall’s website.
Step 2) Register or log in to access number search and caller ID features.
Step 3) Use the search function to input the number you want to look up.
Step 4) Check the name, spam reports, and any available information linked to the number.
Link: https://whoscall.com/en
Method 9: Data Broker Services
Companies that aggregate personal information from various public and private sources can sometimes provide information related to a phone number, although this service typically requires payment. Acxiom is highly rated among the largest data-selling companies globally.
Then, there is Equifax, which is recognized as a major data broker service in the United States of America. These data broker services collect personal and financial data for targeted advertising and credit reporting.
While these two are reputed options, there are plenty of data broker services that may falsify the information. I had a terrible experience of availing service of a data broker agency by the name Big Zero. While accessing the site, I received constant alerts that indicated the site is risky. When tried to contact their customercare service, there was no response. I also received an alert that somebody is trying to access my email from a different device. I immediately blocked access to this service provider and saved myself from facing any privacy violations. Hence, you need to use only reputable data broker services (Acxiom, Equifax) that comply with privacy laws. It will prevent you from facing such a terrible experience that I had with a fake broker firm.
Method 10: Hire a Private Investigator
If other methods fail or seem to be somewhat impractical, hiring a private investigator can be an option. These professional detectives use specialized tools and expertise to track down individuals based on phone numbers.
From my personal experience, it took me nearly 20 days to find a detective with enough experience and license to help me find the details of a number that blackmailed me for a ransom. Although the detective was successful in figuring out the culprit, the process took was quite time-consuming and took around 15 days before uncovering the truth. It was also expensive, as the detective charged me for every single day he handled my case. So, I leave it upon you as whether to consider this option or not. My tip would be to get quotations from multiple agencies to check on the rates before finalizing on a reliable option.
Best Solutions to Your Phone Number Lookup Problems
Below, I have created a table that provides a structured approach to troubleshooting issues related to finding someone by phone number. Please go through it to learn about the potential causes and corresponding solutions:
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Unable to find name by phone number | Use multiple reverse lookup services to cross-check. |
| Inaccurate information retrieved | Verify information through additional sources or contact the person directly if possible. |
| Service requires payment | Use free options like Social Catfish or Truecaller to get basic details without registration. |
| Phone number format issues | Standardize the phone number format before searching (e.g., 123-456-7890). |
| Limited geographic coverage | Ensure the service used covers the area of the phone number (e.g., US and Canada for some apps). |
FAQs
Conclusion
So, finding someone by their phone number is easier than you think! With reverse phone lookup tools like Spokeo and Social Catfish, you can uncover valuable information about the owner. Combine these tools with search engines, social media, and public directories, and you’ll be well on your way to tracking down the person you’re looking for. So, what are you waiting for? Start searching and uncover the truth!
Spokeo is top-rated option that used to fetch data about a particular phone number that claimed to be a law agency firm. This reverse phone lookup service gathered data from public records, social networks, and online databases to deliver a comprehensive report about the firm.